The Feast of Candelaria celebrated in Mexico

A woman holds a dressed-up doll representing baby Jesus while attending mass 40 days after Christmas, in La Candelaria church in Mexico City on Feb. 2. Mexicans traditionally attend mass on this day and celebrate the Feast of Candelaria, carrying elaborate effigies of the young Jesus to be blessed.

Edgard Garrido / Reuters

A man sits on a bench holding a dressed-up doll representing baby Jesus, during a celebration 40 days after Christman in Xochimilco, on the outskirts of Mexico City Feb, 2.

Henry Romero / Reuters

People hold dressed-up dolls representing baby Jesus during mass 40 days after the birth of Jesus in La Candelaria church in Mexico City. Throughout Mexico on this day, people dress up figures of baby Jesus and take him to the church to be blessed.

Dia de la Candelaria or Candlemas is celebrated throughout Mexico on Feb. 2. Also known as the Feast of the Purification, it falls 40 days after Christmas and represents the presentation of Christ at the Temple. In certain regions of Mexico the baby Jesus of each household is taken from nativity scenes, dressed up in colorful clothing and taken to mass to be blessed.